LOSING HEADS - TALES OF TRUTH
By Andy Weddington
Friday, 23 October 2026
And now ... it’s mine. – Unknown U. S. Marine
On Thursday the 22nd of February 1945, an adrenalin-fueled sword-swinging Japanese lieutenant savagely tried to behead a pill box charging U.S. Marine.
Bare-handed, the young, enlisted Marine grabbed the sword, yanked it from the enemy’s hands, and cut off the lieutenant’s head.
That but one horrific to-the-death match amongst thousands ongoing simultaneously.
The fight is told on page 64 of ‘The Spearhead – The World War II History of the – 5th Marine Division.’ And I read it repeatedly trying my damndest to visualize the scene before continuing to read. I failed.
Later in the day I shared that engagement with a couple of retired Marine/SEAL (infantrymen) pals. The Marine/SEAL replied with a Paul Harvey-esque ‘rest of the story’ …
“I read a story about that sword-grabbing Marine. The author wrote that he met the guy at the BAS. The wounded Marine’s hands were swathed in dressings that looked like white boxing gloves and he cradled that sword in his bent arms. When asked about what happened, the wounded Marine described fighting the Jap officer and using his empty M1 rifle pugil stick style to fend off sword blows. The Jap eventually hacked away most of the wood stock, at which point the Marine discarded the rifle and grabbed the sword just as the downstroke began; then wresting the sword from the Jap’s hands and killing the Jap with it. The wounded Marine finished the story by stating: “And now… it’s mine!””
The next day Marines, who’d fought their way to the top, raised an American flag on the peak of Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima.
The second flag-raising, larger flag, by six Marines was fortuitously captured in a photograph by journalist Joe Rosenthal.
A few years after the war, Mr. Rosenthal’s famous image was reference for sculptor Felix de Weldon to create the magnificent larger-than-life bronze called the Marine Corps War Memorial.
Prior to the bronze, de Weldon carved the scene from a nine-foot block of limestone.
That limestone piece rests just outside the gate of Marine Corps Base, Quantico.
Yesterday, was reported a man not wielding sword but sledgehammer attacked the iconic statue causing extensive damage. He decapitated one of the Marines. Irony.
Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano, invader from Mexico, was arrested and charged with felony destruction of property and trespass with intent to damage property.
Basically, his crime is that of the man who in May of 1972 attacked with hammer Michelangelo’s Pieta in Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.
Laszlo Toth, not Japanese, American nor Italian but Hungarian, was not successful taking Mary’s head off. But he did sever the Virgin Mother's left arm, chip her nose and eyelid. His 15 forceful whacks before taken into custody scattered some hundred or so precious fragments.
To avoid criminal prosecution, Mr. Toth spent two years in a psychiatric ward and then was deported. He got off light.
After restoration, bulletproof glass was installed to protect Michelangelo’s masterpiece.
In Quantico, there was not protection for the vulnerable limestone statue.
Like the Pieta, the statue was easy prey.
Mr. Soriano’s good fortune was armed U.S. Marines were not on duty - to riddle him with bullets or maybe cut his head off.
Clearly, Mr. Soriano’s head is not sound and, like Mr. Toth, merits time in a psyche ward.
But a better idea: Extradite Mr. Soriano to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for duty with the 2d Marine Division. Further assign down to a randomly selected rifle platoon for rigorous classroom instruction and field training for attitude adjustment.
Most assuredly, a platoon of Marine infantrymen can and will think of all sorts of clever, effective techniques, to punish and deter, not imaginable to civilian clinicians. After all, it was Marine lance corporals who coined, “Hold my beer!”
Anyway, to safeguard hence forward either post Marine sentry authorized deadly force, or relocate the statue.
On a lighter note …
Yesterday in my social media feed was black and white photograph - same image, basically, left and right side-by-side.
To left head shots of a woman and man. The woman to man’s right with her head lovingly tilted towards and resting on the right side of his head. Caption: Can someone make my boyfriend look like he has money?
To right, caption: Sure. Here you go. Same image of man but the woman’s head cut out and replaced with a stunning beauty.
Whoever crafted the meme included header caption: I don’t care who you are, that’s funny right there.
Yes! For its honesty. Truth. Hilarious!
Laughing still.
Wrapping up …
I’m still angered by the unprovoked attack on the Iwo Jima statue. Madness!
I’m still at loss visualizing the young Marine on Iwo Jima seizing the Japanese lieutenant’s sword and using it to cut his head off.
Combat is brutal. On Iwo Jima the combat up close and personal (as it was during each of the island-hopping battles) and practically incomprehensible.
For example, one U.S. Marine infantry battalion with initial landing strength of 37 officers and 917 enlisted sustained casualties (WIA/KIA) of 95% and 98% respectively.
Try to get your head around those numbers.
And that was but one battalion from the three divisions (3rd, 4th, 5th) that attacked that small spit of volcanic rock.
Sledgehammering off the head of a U.S. Marine, limestone or not, really pisses me off. Perfect would have been a nearby alert adrenalin-fueled Marine to seize the hammer and beat the assailant to death with it.
Post Script: Marines, if you do not own, find copy of ‘The Spearhead – The World War II History of the – 5th Marine Division. Written by Howard M. Conner and published in 1950, it may be challenging to locate but persevere; like Marines do.
Posts
